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You should generally drill into the mortar joints when installing shutters on brick. Mortar is softer, which makes drilling easier and puts less strain on your tools. It also lowers the risk of cracking a brick—something that’s a lot harder to fix. Mortar holds fasteners well enough for standard shutters, and if you ever need to patch the holes later, it’s a much simpler job than dealing with damaged brick. Just keep in mind that if your mortar joints are too thin or the hardware calls for brick anchoring, you'll need to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and adjust accordingly.

It is possible, albeit a lot slower, to break up a rock using water. You would do this by freezing and thawing the water. You could create some initial holes or cracks in the rock, then pour water into the cracks or holes and allow them to freeze (so it's best to do this in winter or in colder climates). Since water expands when it freezes, this puts pressure on the inside of the rock and causes it to crack. You could continue to pour more water in and let it freeze to continue to break up the rock.

When it comes to how to paint a brick chimney, consider that standard paint can seal in moisture and cause serious chimney problems. Instead, use a vapor-permeable sealant. You’ll first scrub and sand the chimney; then, you can patch any gaps with caulk and apply the sealant. We recommend hiring a pro for this job since it entails working on the roof, which comes with a lot of necessary safety precautions.

Yes, you can technically use a pressure washer to remove paint from brick, but it comes with a significant risk of damaging the brick surface. A high-power pressure washer can be fast but may leave the brick looking unsightly. The recommended method is to first apply a chemical paint stripper, following the product's instructions, and then use a stiff metal bristle brush or a pressure washer on a low-pressure setting to remove the loosened paint. Due to the risk of damage, it is often best to hire a professional who can use low-stress methods.